Joe Tippmann admitted that when this offseason began, he wasn’t expecting to find himself in an open competition for his position.
That has become the reality for Tippmann, who enters Jets training camp in a battle for the starting center spot with the freshly signed Josh Myers.
Nonetheless, the 24-year-old out of Wisconsin said he’s making the best of the situation.
“At first, I mean, it took me by surprise a little bit,” Tippmann said after Wednesday’s first day of training camp in Florham Park. “But Coach [Aaron Glenn] actually called me first, and he kind of let me know the situation beforehand. So after that, I was just excited.”
Tippmann started all 17 games for the Jets last season and played every offensive snap, but the team inked a one-year, $3.5 million deal in March with Myers, who started the past three seasons with the Packers.
Glenn provided little clarity on the battle after practice, repeatedly reiterating that there is an open competition “at every position,” but Tippmann removed any doubt when he took the podium.
“Just being able to keep that in my mind, know that it’s an open competition, and that I’m going to have to keep battling every day for that position,” Tippmann said.
Tippmann, a 2023 second-round pick, said he “immediately” followed Myers on Instagram after learning the Jets had signed him because he wanted to begin building a rapport.
“Hit him up,” Tippmann said, “and just kind of started that relationship with him.”
At 6-foot-6, 313 pounds, Tippmann earned a 73.4 grade from Pro Football Focus last year, ranking ninth among qualified NFL centers.
Myers notched a 55.7 grade, ranking 46th.
Besides the competition, Tippmann is focusing on getting reps with Justin Fields, who is a markedly different type of quarterback than those he’s snapped to before.
“I’ve never really played with a quarterback that can play with his legs,” Tippmann said. “Coming from Wisconsin, pocket passers, so finally getting to play with someone like that, it’s great. It’s super exciting.”
He added that Fields is “calm,” “level-headed” and a “very relaxed guy,” and that he’s found his new quarterback easy to communicate with as they learn each other’s tendencies ahead of the season.
Myers, on the other hand, is plenty familiar with Fields — he played with the quarterback at Ohio State in 2019 and 2020.
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The Packers selected Myers, 27, in the second round of the 2021 draft, and he spent time as the center for both Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love in his stint with Green Bay.
“We brought Josh in, so now I have that competition each and every day,” Tippmann said. “It’s something that’s only going to make me better, and pressure makes diamonds.”